US1347737A - Circuit-continuing device - Google Patents

Description

HQA; DOUGLAS. `CIRCUIT-CONTINUING DEVICE. l, v APPLICATION msu Aue.15,191s. l l 1,347,737, Patented July 27, 1920.

I 2 sHEETsSHEET 1.

UNITED STATES CIRCUIT-CONTINUING DEVICE.

Application filed August 15, 1918.

To all 'who/2L t may concer/n lie it known that I, HARRY A. DOUGLAS, citizen of the United States, residing` at Bronson, in the county of Branch and State of illichigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in CircuitContin uing Devices7 of which the following is a full` clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to circuit continuing devices and has for its general object the provision of an improved assembly of component parts of suoli a device. My invention is of particular service in conjunction with an incandescent lamp structure as thereby I am enabled to readily demount the lamp bulb and replace it by a circuit extending` plug` upon one end of a flexible cord whose other end carries a socket with' which the lamp maybe connected. of especial utility in connection with automobiles, the device of my invention enabling me so to mount an incandescent lamp upon' thedash board of an automobile that it'may readily be relocated upon the end vof the flexible cord which is sufficiently long .to enable the lamp to be moved tliroughout .the automobile 'for the purpose of inspection. the lamp then serving as a so-called trouble lamp.

ln carrying out my invention l employ a main socket which, in the case of an automobile cowl lamp, would be mounted on the dash board of the automobile, a supplemental socket at the forward end of the mainlsockct and in separable engagement there with. a contact carrier. such as the base of the lamp,`in ythe supplemental socket. and `a contact carrier in the main socket having a contact or cr tacts for engaging a contact or contacts upon the carrier in the supplep mental socket. ln an incandescent lamp structure the contact carrier in the main v. socket has a forwardly spring pressed contact for engaging the corresponding contact upon the lamp base and, by such engagement, serving to maintain the lamp and supplemental socketl together and also serving to maintain the supplemental socket and the main socket together.

ln the preferred form of the invention the two sockets are in bayonet projection and channel connection and the contact carrier in the supplemental socket is in bayonet projection and channel engagement with this socket. Where the incandescent lamp bulb is housed Within a hood or cowl the Specification of Letters .'atent.

Such a lamp isk Patented July 27, 1920.

seriai No. 250,024.

lreference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment thereof and in which Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a cowl lamp made in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a view, mainly in longitudinal section., illustrating a circuit extending cord; Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the combination of structures f illustrated in Figs. l and 2. the supplemental socket being replaced by the plug on the inner end of the circuit extending cord. the removed supplemental socket and the lamp therein together with the cowl about the lamp being now coupled with the outer socket end of the circuit extending cord; l ig. l is a view on line 4-4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5 illustrates the parts shown in Fig. 4 in separated relation; Fig. 6 is a view on line 6 6 of Fig. 4. on a larger scale; Fig. 7 is a view-on line 7-7 of Fig. 4. on a larger psr-ale: Fig. 8 is a. view on line 8 8 of Fig. ,4. on a larger scale: and'Figs. 9 and 10 are -views showing modifications of parts.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

The main socket or shell l is supported within a ferrule 2 having a flange 3 which is' screwedto the dash board or other mounting 4. This main socket contains a contact carrier 5, -and as the structure illustrated is a socalled two pole structure but to which the invention is not to be limited. this contact carrier supports two spring contacts comprising contacting plungers 6 and 7 which are respectively forwardlyv pressed by coiled springs 8 and 9. The plunger conH tact 7 and. the coiled spring 9 operate in the bore of a terminal conductor l0 to which a circuit conductor l1 is secured. The other circuit conductor 12 is secured to a. terminal conductor 13 having a bore in its forward end. A plunger contact le operates 1n this bore and is pressed forwardly by a coiled spring 15. A switching metallic contact 16 is mounted in the insulating bar 17 that is a carrier for the contact 16 and which bar passes transversely through the shell 1 and is movable laterally of such shell. The' spring 8 and the contact 6 are operable in a current conducting spring barrel 18 which is alined with the plunger contact 14. Then the switching contact 16 is placed in alinement with the plunger contact 14 and the spring barrel 18, the plunger contact 6 is electrically connected with the circuit conductor 12 whereby any circuit continuing device that is connected with the forward ends of the contacts 6 and7 is included in circuit. lheii the switching contact 16 is moved out of alinement with the elements 14 and 18 the circuit is opened. The forward end of the main socket 1 has bayonet channels formed therein, these bayonet channels preferably being in the nature of bayonet slots 19 extending through the side of the socket 1. A supplemental socket 20 surrounds tlie forward end of the main socket and has inwardly extending bayonet proj ections 21 for engagement with the bayonet seats afforded by said bayonet slots or channels to couple both sockets separably. The

supplemental socket, in surrounding theA main socket, conceals the bayonet slots 19 to improve the appearance of the structure and the bayonet channels 19, by being in the form of slots, permit the coupling of a circuitextending plug with and within the main socket 1 when the supplemental socket 20 is removed. y15in-incandescent lamp bullo 22 has its base supplied with bayonet projections 23 which are insertable within the bayonet channels or slots 24 formed in the supplemental shell 2() in order separablyto couple the lamp bulb with said supplemental socket. The base of this lamp bulb constitutes a contact carrier which supports the .contacts 25 and 26 which are connected with the terminals of the lamp bulb filament. These contacts 25 and 26 are engaged by the forwardly spring pressed contacts 6 and 7 when the main and supplemental sockets have been assembled and when thelamp bulb is assembled with the supplemental socket. These contacts 6, 7, pressing forwardly upon the contacts upon the lamp bulb base, maintain all kof said bayonet projections 21 and 23 in engagement with their seats in the corresponding bayonet channels 19 and 24. When the aforesaid switching contact 16 is alined with the contacts 14 and 18 to be engaged thereby the incandescent lamp bulb is in circuit and when this tact 16 is out of such alinement the circuit of such lamp bulb is open.

Where a cowl or hood is to be provided for the lamp bulb the socket 20 desirably has a cylindrical skirt 27 thereon upon which the cylindrical cowl 28 may be disposed and on which skirt said cowl may be turned to adjust the 'location of the light emitting opening 281 formed in the cowl.

Then the lamp bulb is to be placed upon the end of a circuit extending cord iii order that it may be shifted about to furnish light upon parts to be inspected, it is not necessary to remove the cowl and thereafter to remove the lamp bulb since the entiie supplemental socket carrying the lamp bulb and cowl may be uncoupled from the main socket and thereafter connected with the forward end of a flexible circuit extending cord 29 whose iear end is connected with the main socket. lVhen the inspection has been concluded the relocation of the supplemental socket upon the main socket may readily be effected. The adjustment of the lamp bulb from main socket to cord and vice versa is thus simply and easily effected without danger of breaking or iinpairing the bulb and without the necessity of manipulating a large number of parts in order to shift the bulb.

The circuit extending cord 29 has a contact structure upon its rear end which is iii v the form of a contact carrying plug 30 having conductor terminals 31, 32 connected with the strands 33, 34 of the cord. This plug carries 'bayonet projections 35 which are receivable in the bayonet channels or slots 19 when the supplemental socket 2O is removed, the forwardly pressed spring contacts 6 and 7 engaging the contacts 31, 32 when the plug 30 is assembled with the main socket 1. The other end of the circuit extending cord 29 is provided with a Contact structure which preferably includes a socket 36 which holds a contact carrier 37 that supports terminals 38. 39 that are connected with the strands of the cord. The forward ends of the terminals 38 and 39 are formed with bores in Which coiled springs 4()` 4'1 are disposed and in which the plunger con- 'tacts 42 and 43 operate, these contactsl being forwardly pressed by said springs. The

`socket 36 has bayonet channels or slots 44 formedtherein at its forward end to receive the bayonet projections 21 on the supplemental socket 2() in order separably to couple this supplemental socket with the cord socket 36! .lfVhen 'so coupled the springs 4() and 41 press the contacts 42 and 43 against the contacts 25 and 26 upon the lamp bulb base. The spring pressed contacts 42 and 43 not only serve to maintain the bayonet projections 23 in engagement with the bavonet channels 24 but by reason of the eiigagement so maintained the bayonet projections 21 aie maintained in engagement with the bayonet channels 44. In this assembly the socket 36, in its relation to the supplemental socket 20, is a main socket.

The socket that contains the lamp bulb Fig. 9. In the construction shown in this latter figure thek portion that contains the bayonet slots 24 is ay returned portion 20 of the socket, this returned portion being free of the socket at its rear end instead of being rigidly rconnected with the socket as in the construction of'Fig. 5. The modified contact carrier 30v shown in Fig. 10 has a different form of bayonet pins 35 than that elsewhere shown.

The advantages and utility of the outfit of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art and while I have herein shown and particularly describedthe preferred form of the invention I do not wish to be limited thereto nor, in all in-y stances, do I wish to be limited to the cornbination of m improved lamp structure with the circuit extending cord structure. It will be understood that `changes may readily be made in the construction shown without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following l. An incandescent electric lamp structure including a main socket; a supplemental socket at the forward end of the main socket and in separable bayonet projection and channel engagement therewith; an incondescent lamp bulb whose base is in separable bayonet projection and channel engagement with the supplemental socket; and a contact carrier in the main socket having a spring contact pressing forwardly upon a contact uponthe lamp bulb base to maintain all of said bayonet projections in engagement with their seats in the bayonet channels, in combination with a circuit extending cord having a plug at one end which is insertable within the forward end of the main socket and carries a contact engageable with a complemental Contact upon the carrier in the main socket, said cord having a socket at its other end formed to have separable bayonet projection and channel engagement with the supplemental socket, this socket upon the cord having a Contact car.- rier provided with a spring contact pressing forwardly and adapted to engage a complemental contact upon the lamp base that is within the supplemental socket.

2. AnA incandescenty electric lamp structure including a main socket adapted to receive a circuit extending plug within its forward end; a supplemental socket surrounding the forward end of the main socket and in separable bayonet projection and channel engagement therewith; an incandescent lamp bulb whose base is in separable bayonet projection and channel engagement with the supplemental socket; and a contact carrier in the main socket having a spring contact pressing forwardly upon a contact upon the lamp bulb base to maintain all of said bayonet projections in engage ment with their seats in the bayonet channels, in combination with a circuit extending cord having a plug at one end which is insertable within the forward end of the main socket and carries a contact engageable with a complemental contact upon the contact carrier in the main socket, said cord having a socket at its other end receivable in the supplemental socket and formed to have separable bayonet projection and channel engagement therewith, this socket upon the cord having a contact carrier provided with a spring contact pressing forwardly and adapted to engage a complemental Contact upon the lamp base that is within the supplemental socket.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this twelfth day of August, A. D. 1918.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS.

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